Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: Legislative Reports - Legislative assembly; legislative committees; protests

On December 13th, the 2012 Fall Sitting of the 1st Session of the 33rd Legislative Assembly adjourned. The 28-day sitting had convened on October 25th.

Assent

During the course of the Fall Sitting, the following bills (all Government bills) received Assent:

* Bill No. 7, Second Appropriation Act, 2012-13

* Bill No. 42, Donation of Food Act

* Bill No. 43, Act to Amend the Securities Act

* Bill No. 44, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012

* Bill No. 45, Act to Amend the Municipal Finance and Community Grants Act

* Bill No. 46, Act to Amend the Income Tax Act

* Bill No. 47, Act to Amend the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act

* Bill No. 48, Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act

* Bill No. 49, Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Act, 2012

* Bill No. 50, Statute Law.

Amendment (Nurse Practitioners) Act

* Bill No. 51, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Whistle-blower Committee Report

On December 4, Patti McLeod, Chair of the Select Committee on Whistle-blower Protection, tabled the Committee's Final Report. The other members of the Committee were Doug Graham, Stacey Hassard, Sandy Silver and Jan Stick. Established during the 2012 Spring Sitting, the Select Committee had been given access to the records of its namesake (which had not tabled a final report) from the preceding Legislature. The Committee was not tasked with drafting a bill, but with reporting to the House "its findings and recommendations respecting the central issues that should be addressed in whistle-blower protection legislation." The Committee's final report is online at: http://www.legassembly.gov.yk.ca/pdf/whistle_blower_committee_final_report_4dec2012.pdf

Protesters in the Gallery

The presence of protesters in the public gallery was a recurring feature during the Sitting. Whereas the protesters on opening day were orderly and left without incident, this was not always the case. On several occasions, Speaker David Laxton cautioned people in the gallery against participating in the proceedings, and to desist from distracting behaviour (e.g. applause, standing rather than remaining seated, holding conversations in the gallery). On two occasions, the Speaker directed visitors who persisted in distracting behaviour to leave the Chamber. This included a group of high school students who, having stood en masse and been directed by the Speaker to resume their seats, proceeded shortly thereafter to run up and down the gallery staircase. The students...